STEAM NAVIGATION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 502, 18 October 1851, Page 134

STEAM NAVIGATION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

An advertisement having appeared in the Examiner of Saturday lait, requesting "person* desirous of feeing Steam communication establisded between the different ports of New Zealand "to meet at the Wakatu Hotel, on the following Wednesday, "to discuss the propriety of taking immediate measures for that purpose," a highly respectable and numerous body of settlers responded to the call, and aeserapled in the large room of the Hotel at the hour appointed. Mr. Stafford having been requested to take the chair, read the advertisement which had called the meeting, and said that it wai a proof of the interest with which the question of £teath Navigation for the colony was viewed, tfiaVto large a body of persons had assembled, on a Simple request to do so appearing in the newspaper, without a name attached to it. The advertisement, he believed, had been inserted by Mr. Elliott, the editor of the Examiner, on hie own responsibility, and it was well known that the subject of Steam Navigation for the colony had long engaged that gentleman's thoughts, and that he bad on repeated occasions brought it prominently before the public notice. Although hitherto his efforts had not been attended with success, he (the Chairman) thought the time had arrived when something might be done towards the accomplishment of an object which they must all have greatly at heart, and he should be greatly disappointed if some practicable plan was not now introduced to their notice. Mr. Elliott said that he had felt considerable diffidence in venturing to call together his brother settlers on his own simple authority to discuss the important question of Steam Communication for the colony, and he was therefore much gratified to witness a meeting so numerous and so respectable as the present one assembled for that purpose. This at once inspired him with confidence — he saw that there was no longer an indifference and apathy on the subject, and he hoped that the interest which had been awakened towards it would not be again suffered to languish. In introducing to their notice the subject of Steatn Navigation for the colony,. he thought it altogether unnecessary to point out its advantages, socially or politically — these were too apparent to require a word from him on their behalf. Every one resident in New Zealand must have felt that from the nearly total absence of all internal communication between the different settlements, that no country in the world so much needed Steam Communication on its coast as this, and that without it, wo never could become a prosperous colony, nor be able to unite for any great useful purpose. Passing over, then, considerations which all would admit, he would at once direct himself to the important question, How is this thing, which we all so greatly desire, to be accomplished ? The question was, he thought, easy of solution. He would propose the formation of a Joint Stock Company, with a capital of £10,000, in shares of £5 each. Supposing this was dont, and a payment of £1 per share made within the first four months, be would borrow from the Steam Fund of the settlement (which in all probability would be available within that time) the sum of £5,000 for five years. Then another call of £1 per share at the end of tbe first year would in all likelihood be the whole contribution required until the time arrived when the borrowed capital had to be repaid, and, at all events, the capital of £10,000, instead of having to be raised within a few months, might be made up by small call", spread over a period of five or six years. By this meant many persona would take shares who would not otherwise be able to do so, and others take an increased number. In regard to the proposed loan, or bonus, he thought thi9 would be a most legitimate application of a portion of a fund subscribed for the express object of promoting steam communication in this settlement, and that it should be lent without interest. If however his expectations in this respect were disappointed, although some delay might be created by it, tbe loan required could easily be obtained in England, provided the colonists showed on their parti that the undertaking was intended to be a bonafide one. Still, an ar-

rangement with the Trustees of the N«>k*n Fund», here on the spot, would undoubtedly be the better mode of obtaining the money required, provided it could be done. With the capital thua obtained, he would suggest that two steamers should be procured on the screw-propeller principle — one about 170 tons builders' measurement, capable of carry* ing about 200 tons of cargo, to be used in keeping up a constant communication between all the settlements of the colony, from Auckland (Manakau) to Otago, and Ihe other of about 50 tons builders' measurement, to carry from 60 to 70 tons, to be used as a tender to the larger vessel when needed, to take her place in case of accident or while undergoing repairs (so that no interruption should occur in the conveyance of mails), and at other times to be employed on the coast of our Bay, or in the Straits — crossing to and from Motueka and Massacre Bay, acting as a tug in case of need, conveying fat stock from the Wairau to Wellington and Nelson, and, during the wool season, assisting in conveying wool from that and other districts to the shipping port! where vessels might be loading. To give confidence to the public, so as to induce them to come forward readily and take shares, two things were necessary-— one, to show that bharebolders would not be involved in difficulties by incurring unknown liabilities ; and the other, to show that if the scheme held out no prospect of extraordinary profits, it at least afforded grounds of belief that the capital embarked in it would not be thrown away, |but pay at least a fair It was desirable for the first object that the Governor Bliould be applied to to charter the Company, limiting the liability of every shareholder to double the amount of his subscribed capital (as had been done already for banking companies in the colony), and knowing how anxious his Excellency was to see steam communication introduced here, he (Mr. E.) had no doubt but that the Governor would readily accede to our views in this particular. In respect of the success of the undertaking, he thought that would be fully guaranteed by the Governor giving us for a stated period of years a bonus equivalent to the annual cost of the Government brig, to convey the mails and Government passengers — »ay £2,000 for five years ; the brig might then be sold, and the Government would have its work done better, and be money in pocket, aa it would save the heavy charges of the brig, and the gratuities now paid to masters of vessels for carrying mails. There was no doubt but this would alto meet the views of the Governor, for his Excellency had made an offer of the kind more than two years ago. This at all events would be a security to the shareholders against loss for the first five years, after which there could be no question, from the traffic which in the mean time would have sprung up, that tha vessel would pay her own expenses, and yield moreover a large return to her proprietors. This, then, was an outline of the plan by which,, as it seemed to him, they might obtain, within a very Bhort time, steam communication between the different parts of the colony. He way not however wedded to this particular scheme, if any better or more practicable one could be shown. His object in calling the meeting together was not to thrust upon them hi» own particular views, but to invite discussion, and to seek by their joint deliberations to devise some method for giving the colony that communication between its different settlements which was so necessary for the welfare and advancement of the whole. Any plan by which this could be attained, should receive hii warmest support. Mr. Hbnryson gave his full concurrence to the proposal, and promised that it should receive his support. Mr. Stephens was of opinion that the time had arrived when the establishment of steam communication was necessary to prevent that stagnation which he foresaw would otherwise arise. He thought however that the dimensions of the vessel proposed were rather small for a coast like New Zealand, and, were it possible, he would wish to see two vessels Btarted instead of one. He quite concurred in the description of vessel proposed — a screw propeller, but would suggest that the material should be of iron, which was now found to be greatly preferable to wood. For his own part he was not disposed to look for any great profits to the shareholders from the undertaking, but rather to the benefits it would confer upon the settlement as a whole, and the increased value it would give to property of all kinds. As then was a gentleman present lately come amongst them who, as he understood, had studied the subject in England, he should be glad to have Mr. Frazer's view* upon it. Mr. Frazer said that he was quite unprepared to be thus called upon, but having fortunately about him a late report of the General Screw Steam Shipping Company, he would be happy to read it to the meeting. Mr. Frazer accordingly read the document in question, and gave a short sketch of the history of the Company, which, according to the latest advices from England, was likely to have the honour conferred upon it of being selected to convey the first mails by steatn to Australia. Mr. Wells enquired of Mr. Elliott whethtr he could afford any informatioifon the character of the coals found in Massacre Bay, at the subject of fuel was intimately connected with that of Steam. Mr. Elliott in reply said, that so little was really known of the character of the Massacre Bay coals, from no expense ever having been incurred by partitt who had worked them, and from their having contented themselves by taking them from the beach where they were washed by the tea, that it was difficult to say what the coals might prove to be when worked

*n the manner in' which coals were worked in every other part of the world. He had however taken some paina to laarn the opinion of the few practical men who had visited the spot where the coal had been obtained, and particularly that of the second engineer of H. M. Steamer Acheron, who was a native of theNorth of England, and had spent all the early part of hia life in the coal fields of that district;, and, from having been bred an engineer, had; ■ince had great experience of the different qualities of fuel. It was the opinion of this gentleman that the indications of the coal existing in Massacre Bay were most favourable ; and that coal of a better quality than any which had yet found its way here in any quantity did eiiat in the district, was proved by a very superior sample brought over by Mr. Travers, which had been very favourably reported upon by Captain t Stokes, of the Acheron, be (Mr. E.) having sent a specimen of it to Wellington, to that able officer, at his own request. Should the Massacre Bay coal after all prove as inferior as it wasr at present supposed to be, it could still be used in equal quantities with Newcastle coal, as he had the authority of Mr. Thompson, the chief engineer of .the Acheron, for saying, that thus mixed it would burn well on board a steamer. Mr. Travers thought the question of steam of great moment, and that it was highly desirable the undertaking should be attempted. He was not disposed to expect from it large profits, but to look rather to the general benefit it would confer upon us. He was of opinion that a larger capital would be preferable, so as to enable the Company to run two vessels on the coast, as he doubted whether one would be able to perform the work required of it. By making the Company general, instead of a local one, this might perhaps be accomplished, and it would show moreover that we bad no desire to monopolise the benefits of the undertaking. Mr. J. Watts was of opinion that the Massacre Bay coal, mixed with Newcastle coal, would burn well on board a steamer, and be a better fuel than the] Newcastle coal alone. If howeverjcoal could be obtained from Massacre Bay of the quality of the specimen brought over by Mr. Travers, then there would be no need for going to Newcastle for fuel at all, as we should have decidedly a better coal close at hand then any known to exist in New South Wales. Mr. Wrey advocated the appointment of a Committee to consider the question of Steam Communication generally, and to report to a future meeting. He thought that something might be done towards linking ourselves by Steam with England by the Panama route, and that the proposition which the meeting had heard was of too limited a nature. Mr. Saxton reviewed the changes which the colony had undergone during the last few years, and showed that what would have been a premature undertaking a few years ago, was now urgently demanded by the public wants. He thought that a Committee should be appointed, to take the initiatory steps towards carrying the suggestion made by Mr. Elliott into effect. '^Mr. Sclanders said that although it waß most desirable to connect the colony with England by Steam, yet a« we possessed no adequate means for such an object, it wa9 not worth while making the attempt. To establish local Steam Coinmunication[was another affair, and a moot desirable one, and as this was within the means of the colonists themselves, he thought the attempt to do so should be made. After some'further discussion, it was proposed by Mr. Sclanders, and seconded by Mr. Wells — " That » T Committee of seven persons, with power to add to their number, be appointed to draw up a Prospectus for the establishment of a Steam Navigation Company, and that Mr. Stephens, Mr. Sclanders, Mr. Wrey, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Bazton, Mr. Travers, and Mr. Elliott, do form such Committee." Carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was then given to the Chair* man, and the meeting broke up.